security

The chances are good that you weren’t affected by the ransomware attack that began Friday and is still in progress around the world. In fact, it’s very likely that it’s not a threat to you, even if you click on its evil link. I’ll tell you some of the reasons for that. […] continued “Ransomware And Other Scary Monsters”

When you think about the future, you may start to suffer from “abyss gaze,” the depression that settles in when you realize that we’re all doomed. Warren Ellis coined the term in a novella named “Normal,” which tells the story of futurists who suffer nervous breakdowns after discovering that there is no hope for humanity as a result of the trends in whatever area they study. […] continued “Gazing Into The Abyss: Republicans Are Selling Out Your Privacy”

If you see the above message – “The HoeflerText font wasn’t found” – it is a lie. If you click on the “Update” button and run the executable named “Chrome_font.exe” or “Chrome Font v7.5.1.exe”, you will install malware on your computer, most likely ransomware that could take down your entire company. […] continued “Security Warning: Be Suspicious Of Everything (Including Fonts)”

Did you miss any Bruceb News articles in 2016? Maybe they slipped out of sight in your Inbox. Fun fact: when I look over my clients’ shoulders, I see that many of them file my articles in folders that have whimsical names like “Deleted Items” and “Junk Mail.” Such impish senses of humor! […] continued “The 2016 Bruceb News Year In Review”

By every measure that truly matters – personal, family, friends, relationships, community – 2016 was a glorious year for me. I sincerely hope you are the same – happy, healthy, rooted, and all your dreams coming true for you and loved ones.

Pity the poor forgotten router. You have one in your house or your business. It’s your closest approach to the Internet. The router is the first line of defense that you trust to keep your computers safe. If they do their job, routers do not call attention to themselves and they’re easily overlooked, but they’re crucial to your Internet connection and your security. […] continued “Security Tip: Replace, Upgrade And Secure Your Router”

We’re living in the password era. Our passwords unlock important parts of our lives that would have to be addressed if a disaster happens – access to family financial records, bill paying, shopping, online services, email, and so much more.

If you get a link to a website with “Baidu” in the name sent through the Skype messaging system, don’t click on the link. The message will appear to come from someone you know but it’s not – it’s just the bad guys with their latest exploit. The link will take you to a phishing site that attempts to install malware. […] continued “Beware Of The Baidu Links! Your Skype Account Might Be Hacked”

Yahoo is in free fall. It is negotiating a sale of its Internet business to Verizon but that sale is in jeopardy, likely at least to be renegotiated to lower the price by one or two billion dollars and perhaps on the verge of collapse into acrimony and lawsuits. In that case, Yahoo is effectively dead – oh, it will continue to exist in some diminished form but its decline will be quick and ugly. […] continued “Yahoo Is Dangerous And Endangered”

It’s not your imagination: robocalls are on the increase. The volume of robocalls has risen sharply in 2016. Complaints are up. The government and big companies are taking new steps to try to rein in the scammers and perhaps tame the “legitimate” telemarketers. It may be a losing battle, because the scammers and nuisance telemarketers are leveraging new technology and taking advantage of decreasing costs of doing business. […] continued “Don’t Answer The Phone! And Other Advice About Robocalls”

If you have any illusion that privacy means anything, forget it. If you are targeted for surveillance, there is nothing you can do to prevent it. Every keystroke on your computer will be logged. Everything you do on a phone – every message, every call, everything – will be intercepted. There are no tricks that will be sufficient to let you hide. […] continued “You Can’t Escape From A Ninja”

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Bruceb Consulting is one of the leading IT consulting firms in the North Bay, providing computer consulting, network consulting, and IT support to law firms, small businesses, and individuals - onsite in Sonoma County (Santa Rosa, Sebastopol), Marin County (San Rafael), and the Bay Area (San Francisco, Oakland), and remotely for clients all over California.

Bruceb News provides daily computer tips, shopping suggestions, support information, security updates, and much more - written in plain English.

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